Tow disk



March 1969 M. DEL vaccr-uo ETAL 3,434,167

TOW DISK F'i1ed NOV. 27, 1964 INVENTORS MICHAEL DEL VECCHIO FREDERICK J. STIDHAMS %BYWW/ ATTORNEY United States Patent O U.S. Cl. 9-310 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An aquatic device for use in skimming over water and that has a disk-like configuration, the device comprising outer casing members between which a buoyant member is located, a lacing joining the members together at the periphery thereof and forming a part of a tow loop that is connectable to a towing device.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our prior copending application Ser. No. 258,254, filed Feb. 13, 1963, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements in tow members for water skiers and the 1ike and more particularly to an improved life preserver tow disk.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved life preserver tow disk wherein buoyant and structural members are joined to provide a light weight but strong assembly which can support a user while being pulled over the surface of the water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved life preserver tow disk which is of highly buoyant construction adapted to receive a users feet thereon and wherein the underside of the disk is provided With guide fins whereby the disk Will move over the surface With greater control.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved life preserver tow disk wherein an inner buoyant member is held between two disk-like members interlaced together for strength and wherein the overall disk structure is srnooth and lightweight yet strong enough for continued hard usage in the water.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view showing a tow disk in accordance With the present invention being towed by a boat;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the tow disk per se;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational vew thereof;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through one embodiment of tow disk;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a second embodiment of tow disk;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective exploded view showing the components of FIGURE 6 in detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein Iike numerals apply to like parts throughout, it Will be seen that We have provided an improved life preserver tow disk 10 which is adapted to be towed by a boat B for water sports purposes.

The disk 10 shown in FIGURES 1-4 includes an inner buoyant member 12 of generally disk-like shape and of preselected thickness and an outer casing member 14. The latter includes two complemental dish-like members 16, 18 which are provided with cooperating flanged peripheries at 20, 22. These members are preferably made of plastic but wood, laminated or not, and metals such as aluminum may be utilized, if desired. The flanges are perforated by a series of apertures 24, 26. The members 16, 18 receive the buoyant member therein so as to fill the cavity defined thereby and a lacing 28 is interlaced through the apertures 24, 26 to tic the members 16, 18 tightly together.

The dish-like members 16, 18 are preferably of circular shape With a suitably selected depth. The buoyant member 12 is formed of a suitable foam plastic, such as are readily available on the market. One such plastic is sold under the trade name Plasti-Foam, by Poly Structures, Inc. of Stoneharn, Mass. The plastic is injected in suitable quantity into the cavity defined by the two dish-like members 16, 18 which are then laced together so that as the plastic expands and fills the cavity no space remains. In some instances it might be desired to preform the buoyant member 12 before insertion between the members 16, 18.

For insuring tightness the ends of the lacing are secured in clamp 30 which is in two parts clampingly joined by the screws 32.

A tow loop 34 is provided by a section of the lacing 28 and can be joined to a tow rope connected to the boat B when being used. Thus, the pull force s distributed to the lacing around the entire periphery of the disk 10, and the lacing performs the dual function of lacing the sections 16, 18 together and provdng a tow loop.

Suitable foot-receiving formations can be provided at 38, 40 and may include depressions at 42, 44 and toe caps 46, 48 secured in any fashion on top of the dish-like member 16.

The lower dish-like member 18 has a pair of parallel guide [fins 50, 52 secured thereon or integrally formed therewith. The fins 50, 52 taper toward the end portion of the disk having the tow-loop and serve to give greater stability to the disk when travelling through the water.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 6 the outer casing member can be identical With the casing member 14 above described in all its details. The interior is of different construction. A ring 54, preferably of plastic and perforatcd, is received between the member 16, 18 to define an annulus 56. Suitable plastic foam is utilized to fill the annular space or if desired, as shown in FIG. 6, a buoyant inflatable tube 12' may be utilized to fill the annulus.

It Will thus be seen that the resultant disk can be drawn by a boat and Will support a Water skier thereon. The disk is less dangerous than skis because of its small, lightweight construction. Also, its high buoyancy is helpful in supporting a skier who falls into the water.

From the foregoing, it is believed that We have provided an improved life preserver tow disk which fulfills the objects hereinbefore enumerated.

As this invention may be emboded in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present ernbodment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall Within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by these claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A life preserver tow disk comprising an inner buoyant member of generally disk-like shape and of preselected thickness, an outer casing member including upper and lower dish-like members receiving the buoyant member therebetween, means securing said dish-like members together at their periphery so as to hold said buoyant member therebetween, said means including a lacing joining said dish-like members at their peripheries so as to provide for limited expansion, at least one tow loop formed by a portion of said lacing, said buoyant member cfilling the space between said dish-like members, guide means secured to the underside of one of said dish-like members, means on the top of the other of said dish-like members far receiving the feet of a user, whereby the user can stand on the tow disk in firm position thereon.

2. A life preserver tow disk comprising an inner buoyant member of generally disk-like shape and of preselected thickness, an outer casing mernber including upper and lower dish-like members receiving the buoyant member therebetween, means securing said dish-like members together at their periphery so as to' hold said buoyant member therebetween, said means including a lacing joining said dish-like members at their peripheries so as to provide for limited expansion, at least one tow loop provided by a section of said lacing, said buoyant member comprising an inner ring defining an annulus between its periphery and the inside surface of said dish-like members, and a buoyant ring filling said annulus, guide means secured on the underside of one of said dsh-like members, and means on the top side of the other of said disb- 1ike members for receiving the feet of a user, whereby the user can stand 011 the disk in firm position thereon.

Refereuces Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,063 9/1956 Quinn 9-310 3,045,264 7/1962 Smith 9--310 MJLTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 9 11 

